document
stringlengths 0
2.07k
| summary
stringlengths 1
299
| id
stringlengths 8
8
|
|---|---|---|
Anders Kompass was suspended by the UN for leaking the report to French authorities, who are now investigating.
The UN appeal tribunal ruled that his suspension was unlawful, and that he should now return to work.
The UN denies allegations it covered up child abuse.
French authorities are now investigating 14 soldiers over the report, having received it in July last year.
The report alleges that children as young as nine were forced to carry out sex acts in return for food.
French President Francois Hollande said last week: "If some soldiers have behaved badly, I will show no mercy."
Soldiers from Chad and Equatorial Guinea have also been implicated in alleged abuse, but neither country has responded publicly to the accusations.
France intervened in its former colony in December 2013, nine months after a rebel alliance, Seleka, had captured the capital and ousted President Francois Bozize.
The country descended into ethnic and sectarian violence, with thousands of people fleeing their homes and the UN warning that there was a high risk of genocide. | A UN whistle-blower who revealed allegations of child sex abuse by French peacekeepers in the Central African Republic should be reinstated immediately, a tribunal says. | 32606500 |
The 26-year-old took 25 wickets and scored more than 300 runs to help the Red Rose club lift the trophy in 2015.
In August, Faulkner became only the sixth Australian to take a hat-trick in a one-day international when he achieved the feat against Sri Lanka.
"He's a world-class cricketer, a true competitor. It'll be great to have him back," head coach Ashley Giles said.
Faulkner, from Tasmania, has played one Test, 59 one-day internationals and 21 Twenty20 matches for Australia.
"Finals Day at Edgbaston was one of the best days of my career so hopefully we can replicate the success of 2015 next year," Faulkner said.
"I was blown away by the support I received from the Lancashire fans." | Lancashire have re-signed Australia all-rounder James Faulkner for the T20 Blast competition in 2017. | 37685717 |
The new train is for use on the line linking Paddington to Exeter and Cornwall via Reading and Newbury.
It is part of what GWR describes as the "biggest fleet upgrade in a generation", aimed at reducing journey times and increasing capacity.
The Class 802 fleet is due to enter passenger service next summer.
This new train is the same as the Class 800 model currently being built for other parts of the network, but has a higher powered engine designed specifically for use on the Berks and Hants line to overcome "more challenging geography" in Devon and Cornwall.
These trains will be built in Pistoia, Italy, due to lack of extra capacity in the Newton Aycliffe-based factory, which is building the rest of the new Class 800 fleet.
The Class 800 fleet are being tested in the UK and due to enter service later this year. | Test trains for the new fleet of Intercity Express Trains on the Great Western Railway (GWR) in the South West have left Japan, heading for the UK. | 39746465 |
The Justice Secretary "regretted" prison rules at Feltham Young Offenders Institution had been breached, the High Court has heard.
But her lawyer denied the boy, who has mental health problems, was held in "inhuman and degrading" conditions.
Tom Weisselberg QC said he was isolated because of his "challenging" behaviour.
Ms Truss is contesting claims brought forward by the boy's mother, that his confinement in a cell by himself for 23-and-a-half hours a day amounted to inhuman or degrading treatment.
Mr Weisselberg said the boy, known as AB, had a "history of assaulting staff" and had used "rude, racist and threatening language" to them and other inmates at Feltham.
Mr Weisselberg admitted it was "unlawful" that the boy was unable to do activities with other young people.
AB's "removal from association" breached Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to a private and family life - and did not comply with prison regulations, the court heard.
He also said AB did not receive the statutory minimum of 15 hours' education per week - also in breach of prison rules.
But Mr Weisselberg said the teenager had made racist remarks to Muslim and black inmates which had inflamed tensions at Feltham.
"That racism has led him to be a target," he said, adding that AB's "challenging" behaviour required "very careful management".
"The prison has not sat on its hands," he said.
The hearing continues. | A 16-year-old boy held in solitary confinement for four months was a victim of procedural "failings", Liz Truss has admitted. | 39723563 |
The 27-year-old would have joined as temporary overseas cover for injured South African Rory Kleinveldt.
Southee has played 48 Tests, 99 one-day internationals and 38 Twenty20 games.
"We were very hopeful of having him from 1 July, but it wasn't signed off by New Zealand Cricket. They have tours ahead of them and it's their priority, but we really thought this was going to happen," said head coach David Ripley.
"The big downside is another week has ticked by now, which leaves us short of time to get someone in."
Kleinveldt, Richard Levi, Olly Stone, Steven Crook and Monty Panesar all sat out Northamptonshire's County Championship game with Sussex this week.
In addition, Seekkuge Prasanna is currently playing for Sri Lanka in their one-day series against England.
"We get Seekkuge back after that series which isn't far away, but Tim would've been great," Ripley continued to BBC Radio Northampton.
"He wanted to play red-ball cricket and is obviously an Indian Premier League player too. But it wasn't to be.
"We've still got a couple of irons in the fire and are hopeful of getting someone in." | Northants have failed in a bid to sign New Zealand all-rounder Tim Southee. | 36610515 |
The detail is contained in an annual statistical report published by the Department for Infrastructure.
Major applications are defined as those that have important economic, social and environmental implications for a council area.
Only Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council met the target.
At Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, the average time taken was more than 70 weeks.
The time taken to process a decision is calculated from the date on which an application is deemed valid to the date on which the decision is issued or the application is withdrawn.
Overall, there were 12,220 planning applications received in Northern Ireland in 2015-16, a fall of 5% on the previous financial year.
The number of renewable energy applications, which are mainly for wind turbines, fell by 39% when compared with the previous year and were down by three fifths when compared with 2011-12.
The total number of applications, across all types of development, is still more than 60% below the pre-crash peak. | Only one Northern Ireland council met the statutory 30-week average target for processing major planning applications last year. | 36673694 |
The other tenants of the building it occupies have long wanted it shut down because of safety concerns.
The chairman of the group behind the museum, Albert Ho, told the BBC that protracted litigation was proving too expensive
China bans all reference to the military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters on 4 June, 1989.
It comes as there is growing concern among some in Hong Kong that the freedoms given to the territory when it was handed back to China in 1997 by the British are being eroded.
The museum, which opened in 2014, is run by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, which also organises the Tiananmen anniversary vigil every year.
It features a statue of the Goddess of Democracy, similar to the one on display at Tiananmen Square during the protest, as well as photos and video clips from the time.
Tenants in the commercial building say the museum violates a regulation that the premise should only be used for offices, in legal documents seen by AFP news agency.
Mr Ho alleges that the complaints are politically motivated. He said the building management records the identities of all visitors which has made some from the mainland reluctant to come.
About half of its 20,000 visitors since it opened have come from mainland China.
"The decision has been made to look for a new location," Mr Ho said. "The other side is very well funded." | A museum in Hong Kong dedicated to the Tiananmen Square protests will close by September because of a legal dispute. | 36041972 |
The 26-year-old was released by the Easter Road side at the end of last season.
Cairney started his career at Queen's Park and moved to Partick Thistle in 2008, scoring 20 goals during a four year spell at Firhill.
He switched to Hibs in 2012 under then manager Pat Fenlon and made 53 appearances in two years.
Meanwhile, full back Sean Clohessy has left Killie after the final year of his deal was cancelled by mutual consent.
The 27-year-old Englishman, who moved to Rugby Park from Southend last summer, played 26 times for Allan Johnston's side last season, scoring two goals. | Kilmarnock have signed former Hibernian midfielder Paul Cairney on a two year contract. | 28091890 |
Candidates standing in Norfolk are listed below.
Candidates are listed alphabetically by surname. BBC News App users: tap here to see the candidates.
More information is available on the Choose my PCC website. | Elections for police and crime commissioners will be held in the 41 police force areas of England and Wales on 5 May 2016. | 36017927 |
The 20-year-old is one of four new faces in the squad for the international friendly tournament in China, that begins next week.
Mead scored 12 goals for the Lady Black Cats in their debut campaign in WSL 1.
"Finishing top scorer in WSL 1 and getting in the England squad is a dream come true," Mead said.
"It's a new challenge, it's a different ball game" she told BBC Newcastle.
"It will be different to the WSL and the international level I've played at and I'm looking forward to it, but can't wait for the experience."
Chelsea players Hannah Blundell, Laura Coombs and Drew Spence were the other uncapped players to be included in Mark Sampson's squad.
In addition to the call-up, Mead was also included among the nominees for the England Women's Young Player of the Year along with Alex Greenwood, Fran Kirby and Jodie Brett.
"I'm quite excited to be on that list, it's a massive honour," she added.
"I've been lucky enough to play for England since I was 12-years-old and I played for boys teams which has helped me develop quicker." | Uncapped Sunderland striker Beth Mead says her first England senior call-up has topped off a memorable first season in Women's Super League One. | 34527885 |
Emergency services were called to a house in East Calder on Sunday morning but 15-year-old Dione Melville was pronounced dead a short time later.
Police Scotland said the girl's death was being treated as unexplained.
Another two 15-year-old girls were taken to St John's Hospital in Livingston as a precaution.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Police in West Lothian were called to an address in the East Calder area at around 9.50am on Sunday March 27 following a report of concern for a teenager.
"The Scottish Ambulance Service attended and a 15-year-old girl was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
"Two girls, also aged 15, were taken to St John's Hospital as a precaution.
"The death is currently being treated as unexplained. A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal and inquiries are continuing." | Police are understood to be investigating whether drugs were involved in the death of a teenager in West Lothian at the weekend. | 35928589 |
Gordon Lauder was riding his bike along Skirsa Street when the accident happened, at the junction with Balmore Road, at about 23:05 on Friday.
He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary but died in the early hours of the morning.
The driver of the taxi and his two passengers were uninjured but were left badly shaken by the incident. | A 23-year-old man has died after his motorbike was in collision with a hackney cab in Glasgow. | 35678012 |
The 29-year-old world record holder scored 34, beating Frenchman Jean Quiquampoix, who took silver with 30.
A tense shoot-off between Quiquampoix and China's Yuehong Li decided the bronze medal.
Cuba's 2012 Olympic champion Leuris Pupo finished fifth after the first series of eliminations.
Germany equal Great Britain's gold medal tally of eight, having won three shooting titles in Rio.
Find out how to get into shooting with our special guide.
Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox. | German policeman Christian Reitz has won the Olympic men's 25m rapid fire pistol title in Rio. | 36688101 |
The strike would have seen 1,000 Arriva Trains Wales services cancelled and affected around 60,000 people.
The operator said it would aim to provide a normal service on all routes but there might be "some minor service recovery issues" on Thursday.
The announcement followed last minute talks with unions RMT and Aslef.
An RMT spokesman said members had been instructed to work normally.
The unions had argued for better working practices for their drivers, describing conditions for them as "almost Dickensian" in some aspects.
They also said drivers in Wales were paid less than in other parts of the country and called for parity with counterparts over the border.
If last-minute talks had failed, all Arriva Trains Wales services would have been cancelled from 00:01 GMT on Thursday, with no replacement bus services.
People travelling to the Wales v Netherlands football international at Cardiff City stadium on Friday evening, may have been affected. | A planned 48-hour strike by train drivers around Wales due to start on Thursday has been suspended, the RMT union has said. | 34792400 |
The 34-year-old victim was shot once in the shoulder while he was standing outside the Jolly Roger pub in All Hallows Road, Easton, at about 02.00 BST on Saturday.
Police said his injuries were not life-threatening.
A 29-year-old man and two boys, aged 17 and 15, have been arrested and are being held in police custody.
Avon and Somerset Police said one of the focus points of their inquiry was to locate a red Peugeot 206, registration KY02 AUH.
Det Insp Simon Brickwood said: "It's vital we trace this red Peugeot 206 and I'm appealing for anyone who has seen a car matching this description before, during or, crucially, after the incident, to call us as soon as possible."
Det Insp Brickwood also spoke to reassure the community, saying "crimes involving a firearm are extremely rare". | Two boys and a man have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a shooting outside a pub in Bristol. | 36010072 |
Fifteen members of a group Respect the Flag face street gang charges from the incident near Atlanta in late July.
Pick-up trucks decorated with the Confederate banner drove past the party in Douglasville and shouting broke out.
Residents told local media the people in the trucks used racial slurs but they say they were attacked.
On Monday the Douglas County district attorney's office said that, following an investigation, the individuals from Respect the Flag were being charged with violating the state's law on street gangs and with making "terroristic threats".
Two of them are also charged with battery in relation to a separate incident at a petrol station the same day.
The Confederate battle flag became a potent symbol for the southern states fighting the Civil War and is seen by some as an icon of slavery and racism.
Earlier this year, there was renewed debate in the US about its place on public buildings after a man accused of killing nine worshippers at a black church in South Carolina appeared in many photos holding the flag. | A group of white men and women driving cars flying the Confederate flag threatened a black family at a child's birthday party, say prosecutors. | 34512174 |
Emergency services were called to an address in Broadmayne near Dorchester on 27 May after the boy was found to be seriously ill.
He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Dorset Police said a man and a woman, both aged 21 and from the Dorchester area, had been arrested.
Officers said a murder inquiry was launched following a post-mortem examination but have not revealed the cause of the toddler's death.
Insp Mike Darby said: "I appreciate the incident has impacted on this close-knit community, but it is important we understand the full circumstances surrounding the death.
"An investigation has been launched and there may be some police presence in the village while detectives carry out their investigations." | Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the sudden death of a two-year-old boy from a Dorset village. | 36436478 |
In 2012, Bristol City Council put £2m aside for the Hartcliffe Way site and the scheme was also part of the city's European Green Capital bid.
Mayor George Ferguson said: "I'm not putting a recycling centre there that's going to cost the city year after year."
The Liberal Democrats at the council have called for the scheme to go ahead.
Liberal Democrat leader Gary Hopkins said: "We have to use the term of environmental vandal at the mayor for the scheme.
"Money was set aside for it, it was even promised as part of the bid for European Green Capital and it's absolutely shocking this scheme has not proceeded."
But the mayor has said the centre's running costs would need to be subsidised every year, which the council could not afford.
Local residents groups, such as Friends of Dundry Slopes Conservation Group, claim the lack of local recycling facilities in Hartcliffe Way is causing fly-tipping.
Resident Heather Jarrett said: "This is one of the problems for not having local recycling facilities open because I feel Dayes Road is so far away, a lot of people don't have cars for a start or they're not willing to go that far.
"It's convenient to dump it in the fields where nobody can see it."
But the mayor has said fly-tipping is a wide-spread national problem and educating people about the crime is a way of tackling it.
Mr Ferguson said he was "starting discussions with social enterprises" to find ways of re-using and recycling waste. | Bristol's mayor has been accused of being an "environmental vandal" for shelving a pledged recycling centre. | 33866327 |
Former shadow welfare minister Helen Goodman made the move without the blessing of interim party leader Harriet Harman.
Ms Goodman says 40 MPs back her attempt to reject the Welfare Bill.
Ms Harman has said that if the party "opposed everything" it would "succeed on nothing".
Earlier this week, she said Labour had to recognise that one of the reasons it lost the general election was because it was not trusted on welfare spending.
She has urged the party to abstain on the Welfare Reform Bill, warning against "blanket opposition" to reform.
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said: "There is now the prospect of the acting Labour leader either being forced to back down in the face of opposition from her own side, or Labour being divided in a Commons vote."
A Labour Party spokesman said it would make its intentions clear "fairly shortly".
Bishop Auckland MP Ms Goodman, who has left Labour's front bench to join the Treasury select committee, had announced the move on Twitter, writing: "With 40 other MPs I've put down a motion to reject Tory Welfare bill, because it will push more children esp in big families into poverty."
Other Labour MPs wrote of their support on Twitter, with Warrington North's Helen Jones tweeting: "Glad so many MPs are supporting our motion to reject Tory Welfare Bill, which will push families on low wages further into poverty." | The Labour Party faces an open split over the government's planned cuts to benefits spending after one of its MPs tabled an amendment to the legislation. | 33546341 |
The attack was reported to have happened in Lothian Road, opposite the Waldorf Astoria hotel, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Police are asking for anyone with information for come forward. | Police are investigating the rape of a young woman at a bus stop in an Edinburgh city centre street. | 37417552 |
In total, 250,000 people are expected to fly in the six-week summer holiday period - 25% up on last year.
The figure has been helped by Wales' Euro 2016 football team and fans using the airport for the tournament in France.
Over the last 12 months (July 2015 to July 2016), 1,326,923 used the airport. | Cardiff Airport saw a 14th consecutive month of growth in July, with a passenger increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2015, it said. | 37037690 |
Richard Maycock, who taught at Caludon Castle School, is accused of three counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.
The 43-year-old of Swanage Green, Walsgrave, was arrested on 14 November last year after an allegation of assault against a 15-year-old girl.
He was charged on Tuesday and is due to appear before magistrates in Coventry on 16 December.
In a statement, Coventry City Council said: "As legal proceedings are now active, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.
"The council and the school are cooperating fully with the police on this investigation."
Caludon Castle School, in Axholme Road, declined to comment. | A PE teacher in Coventry has been charged with child sex offences. | 30317162 |
The move prevents the Prison Officers' Association from asking members in England and Wales to withdraw from "voluntary tasks".
The POA said withdrawal from voluntary roles was not industrial action or a breach of discipline.
But the government argued the POA plan broke the law banning prison officers from taking industrial action.
The tasks the POA planned to withdraw included suicide prevention, first aid, control and restraint, and hostage negotiation.
Reaching his decision, Mr Justice Leggatt said: "It seems to me that the evidence indicates the proposed action constitutes industrial action."
The details of the injunction are now being discussed.
What is going wrong with the prison system?
The 'poster child' of super prisons
Watch: Prison chaos uncovered by Panorama
The POA's plan follows a dispute over pay and pensions and surging levels of violence behind bars.
Last week, ministers said pay rises of up to £5,000 would be given to some officers at 31 prisons in London and south-east England with recruitment problems.
But the POA said the pay rise had "incensed" its members, many of whom would not benefit.
In November, thousands of prison officers staged a 24-hour strike because of health and safety concerns.
The High Court ordered the POA to suspend the protest and talks later took place with the government, focusing on pay and pensions.
The Ministry of Justice announced last month that the National Offender Management Service would be scrapped and replaced with a new prison and probation service aimed at cutting crime and reforming offenders.
Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said: "The Tories' complacent attitude to relations with prison staff suggests they are still not serious about resolving the crisis they have created in our prisons." | The government has won a High Court injunction blocking industrial action by prison staff on Wednesday. | 39121720 |
Jones, 29, collapsed by the side of the pitch six minutes into the game at London Skolars and was later pronounced dead of a suspected cardiac arrest.
Fans at the Keighley ground gave applause on the sixth minute of the Cougars' home game against Coventry.
Jones' shirt number six has been retired by the Keighley club.
His widow Lizzie went on to the pitch before the game when balloons in the West Yorkshire club's colours were released.
Writing in the match day programme she said: "I'm so happy my wonderful Danny finished his days playing the sport he adored, at a club he treasured with lads he thought the world of.
"Danny was the best daddy and husband in the whole world; he made us smile every single day.
"I want everyone to remember his passion and commitment and, most of all, his contagious, infectious smile.
"I will bring his beautiful babies up to make him proud. The legacy he has left will last forever. I could not be any prouder of my beautiful man."
Keighley chairman Gary Fawcett hopes a fund set up for Jones' family will eventually top £1m.
Donations for Danny Jones's widow, Lizzie, and their five-month-old twins has already passed £70,000. | Thousands of rugby league fans paid tribute to Keighley player Danny Jones at the club's first home game since his death last Sunday. | 32681431 |
Andrew Keenan died in hospital on Monday after being found at his home in Bewicke Road, Wallsend, North Tyneside.
His death is being treated as "unexplained", but officers believe he may have been attacked in Gladstone Street between 18:00-19:00 BST on Sunday.
Three men aged 27, 30 and 35, and a woman, 30, have been arrested and bailed. | Police investigating a man's death say he may have been assaulted. | 36997216 |
Mr Hichilema's convoy allegedly refused to make way for President Edgar Lungu's convoy on Sunday, while travelling to a ceremony.
A confrontation erupted between the two convoys, as the president's motorcade attempted to overtake Mr Hichilema's.
Neither Mr Hichilema nor his lawyer has commented since he was charged.
Police said Mr Hichilema's convoy endangered the president's life.
Treason is a non-bailable offence in Zambia, with a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of death.
Mr Hichilema was arrested on Tuesday after armed policemen raided his home in an affluent suburb in the capital, Lusaka.
He accused police of firing tear gas into his home while his wife, Mutinta Hichilema, said they "wanted to kill my husband".
Last year, Mr Lungu narrowly beat Mr Hichilema in presidential elections.
Mr Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UNPD) says it does not recognise Mr Lungu as president. It alleges the poll was rigged.
He has been charged with five of his aides, following the battle of the motorcades on the road between Limulunga and Mongus, some 500km (300 miles) west of Lusaka.
"The opposition leader disobeyed police orders to give way to the presidential motorcade in an attempt to put the life of the republican president in danger," police chief Kakoma Kanganja told reporters.
Mr Hichilema and his aides have also been charged with using insulting language, he added.
Mr Hichilema is already facing charges of sedition dating from last October, a move his party said was an attempt by the ruling party to silence dissent.
He was out on the bail when he was arrested on Tuesday. | Zambia's main opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has been charged with treason after allegedly obstructing the presidential motorcade. | 39577230 |
The 26-year-old Saracens second row will be examined on Wednesday to gauge his fitness for the Twickenham contest.
His Saracens second row partner Maro Itoje is set to start a Test in the back row for the first time.
Itoje has trained at blind-side flanker and is expected to fill the void vacated by the injured Chris Robshaw.
If coach Eddie Jones persists with his plan to field the 22-year-old on the flank, Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury will pair up in the second row if Kruis is unavailable.
Wing Jack Nowell missed training, but is understood to be fully fit and available for selection.
There are three loose-head props retained, with Joe Marler, Matt Mullan and Ellis Genge competing for the two places in the matchday 23.
The following 25 players have been retained by England:
Forwards: D Cole (Leicester), E Genge (Leicester), J George (Saracens), T Harrison (Northampton), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), N Hughes (Wasps), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), M Mullan (Wasps), K Sinckler (Harlequins), T Wood (Northampton)
Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), E Daly (Wasps), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), J May (Gloucester), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), B Te'o (Worcester Warriors), B Youngs (Leicester) | England have been given an injury scare before their Six Nations opener against France after lock George Kruis suffered a knee injury in training on Tuesday. | 38819336 |
Trevor Wright, 67, of Ballingdon Street, Sudbury, Suffolk, was found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court of five charges of rape and seven of sexual assault.
He had already admitted six more sex assaults on the same three victims.
Judge Martyn Levett told Wright he should sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
Wright's offending took place between 1977 and 1989, one rape occurred in a car belonging to a customer at his garage in Ballingdon Street.
Other offences took place at a stables where Wright kept a horse.
Giving evidence, Wright said he was "sex obsessed" and admitted rubbing himself against the girls for sexual gratification but denied committing any sexual assaults or rapes.
He told police he had been a heavy drinker and suffered from memory problems. | A "sex obsessed" garage owner who preyed on schoolgirls in the 1970s and 80s has been jailed for 19 years. | 34952765 |
The boy was walking with a friend in Laurel Drive, Wishaw, when he was attacked by a group at about 16:30 on Monday 21 March.
Two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old are due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court in connection with the incident.
A 14-year-old boy has also been reported to the procurator fiscal. | Three youths have been arrested in connection with a street attack in North Lanarkshire which left a 15-year-old boy seriously injured. | 36134085 |
Research by the CIPD found a jump in the number of firms planning to hire more apprentices and school-leavers.
A survey of more than 1,000 companies found that half were taking measures to boost the skills of their workforce in response to recruitment difficulties.
A third were looking to take on more apprentices, the survey indicated.
Gerwyn Davies, labour market analyst for the CIPD, told Today: "The underlying factor is that the jobs market is very strong, that's forcing more employers to look at a wider range of applicants."
He added that young people had fared worse than other age groups over the past decade, so there was an element of catch-up, but also that employers wanted to address their future skills needs.
In a statement, he said: "After a long, dark decade, the prospects for young people are finally looking brighter." | Job prospects for young people are improving as firms try to fill skills gaps, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development suggests. | 33844840 |
Government figures revealed Dorset Police had the worst figures in the UK for carrying out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on time.
In nine out of 12 months in 2015 the force failed to complete the target of 100% of checks in 60 days.
It caused delays for residents applying for certain jobs, particularly work with children or vulnerable adults.
The force said it was now achieving above the targets and had reduced the backlog of applications by almost 90%.
Dorset's police and crime commissioner, Martyn Underhill, said: "I was shocked to find out about the delays, we had a really unacceptable backlog.
"The volume is huge as we have 600 applications a week - we didn't have enough staff, we let it slip but we have turned it round."
Figures showed the force only processed a quarter within the 60-day target in May, making it the worst out of 50 forces across a 10-month range.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are required for anyone working or volunteering with children and vulnerable adults. | A police force criticised for taking too long to process criminal record checks said it has made "improvements". | 36604188 |
A spokesman for the White House said the Russian planes flew close to the USS Ronald Reagan during a joint military exercise with South Korea.
Josh Earnest said the incident "did not result in significant confrontation".
US-Russia relations have deteriorated, particularly over the conflicts in eastern Ukraine and Syria.
Mr Earnest said there were "vigorous disagreements" between the two countries, but that the chill in ties did not reflect the events of the Cold War.
A US Navy official told Reuters news agency that two Russian Tu-142 Bear aircraft flew within a nautical mile of the Reagan.
The incident took place in international waters and air space in the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, according to the White House.
South Korean military aircraft first intercepted the Russian planes before the US jets escorted them from the area.
It comes days after a US Navy ship angered the Chinese government by sailing close to artificial islands built by Beijing in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
The heads of the Chinese and US Navies held talks by video-link on Thursday.
The US Navy said that Admiral John Richardson and his Chinese counterpart Admiral Wu Shengli discussed the importance of maintaining dialogue.
The patrol by the destroyer USS Lassen on Tuesday has been seen as a challenge to China's territorial claims in the Spratlys, which are opposed by other countries in the region.
China's island factory
Why is the South China Sea contentious? | The US Navy scrambled four F/A-18 jets to intercept Russian warplanes which flew near a US aircraft carrier off the Korean peninsula, officials say. | 34672611 |
Up to 20 police officers and a helicopter were searching for the woman but it was Patterdale terrier Flash who found her next to a hedge.
The ten-month-old dog joined the search party near his home in Barmpton, Darlington, of his own volition.
Flash's owners said their pet is an "outside dog" and they only found out about the rescue the next day.
Owner Elijah Ward, 13, said he was "so proud" of his pet.
His father Elijah added: "We have a smallholding and he often wanders by himself but we noticed he went missing on the night and returned the next morning.
"We only realised what he'd done after speaking to neighbours and police.
"Now we wonder if he stayed with her all night.
"We went straight out and bought him lots of treats.
"He's a little hero really."
The daughter of the missing woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they were grateful to everyone involved.
Sgt Barry Evans, from Durham Police, said: "As officers worked down the field and the helicopter was overhead, a dog belonging to a local resident had accompanied officers as they searched the fields.
"Flash went and laid down near a hedgerow. He appeared to be indicating at something.
"This led a family member of the missing person to discover the woman, found apparently unhurt from the overnight exposure although a little distressed." | A pet dog has been hailed a hero for finding an elderly woman who had been missing for 14 hours. | 40730775 |
The cast-iron lamp-posts - which originally housed gas-powered lamps - were set to be switched for modern versions by Reading Borough Council.
But locals said the antique street furniture, produced in local foundries in the 19th Century, gave the town its spirit.
A consultation will be held before any work commences, the council said.
The number of iron street lights in Reading has fallen from 700 to 400 since 2016.
Only lamp-posts which have structural faults or were a risk to public safety would be replaced, the council said.
Residents of the Bell Tower area of the town, where 21 of the lights are clustered in four terraced streets, were among those to complain about the plans.
"There are very few of them left in the country, and they reflect the original Victorian character of the area", said David Neale from the Bell Tower Community Association.
"They have already been satisfactorily retro-fitted for electric lighting, so believe that it should be possible for them to be fitted with modern lighting".
Deputy council leader Tony Page said: "We fully appreciate the heritage value of cast iron columns, and our preference is of course to keep these columns in place wherever possible."
He also said the council will not remove any of the cast-iron columns while it consults with local residents about their future. | Plans to replace a town's 200-year-old street lights have been put on hold amid an outcry from campaigners. | 40262541 |
He said he had "never believed that the UK should be subsumed into an undemocratic bureaucracy".
Mr Davies said he would not campaign for Brexit, saying the opinions of all UK citizens were of "equal value".
The last of the 11 Welsh Conservative MPs to reveal his opinion, Mr Davies is the fifth wanting to leave the EU, with six in favour of remaining in.
He had previously said he wanted to consult local party members before deciding how he would vote in the referendum on 23 June.
Writing on his blog, Mr Davies said he voted for the UK to leave the then European Economic Community in 1975 - having joined it in 1973 - adding that he and would have voted to leave "at any stage over the last 43 years if asked".
"Carrying out many differing responsibilities over last three decades, I have always worked enthusiastically and positively with the European Union in the best interests of whatever organisation I happened to be representing at the time," he said.
"But put simply, I have never believed that the UK should be subsumed into an undemocratic bureaucracy, which is today's European Union - and which I believe has always been the dream of those who have championed European integration from its beginnings in the 1950s.
"I want the UK to work constructively with our European neighbours, but as an independent state, free to trade and engage with the whole world." | Montgomeryshire Tory MP Glyn Davies has said he will vote for the UK to leave the European Union in the referendum. | 36230821 |
Harry Anderson's second goal in as many games fired Lincoln ahead a minute after half-time, but Blair Turgott equalised on 65 minutes.
Anderson scored the second goal in Lincoln's 2-1 win at Wrexham in midweek, which left them two points adrift of the leaders, and he was on the scoresheet again when he cut in from the left and drilled home.
Bromley's equaliser arrived when substitute Tom Champion gave away possession and Lee Minshull set up Turgott to score.
Report supplied by the Press Association.
Match ends, Bromley 1, Lincoln City 1.
Second Half ends, Bromley 1, Lincoln City 1.
Substitution, Bromley. Jack Holland replaces Adam Cunnington.
Jordan Higgs (Bromley) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Lincoln City. Theo Robinson replaces Bradley Wood.
Sam Habergham (Lincoln City) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution, Bromley. Daniel Ajakaiye replaces Dave Martin.
Substitution, Lincoln City. Macauley Bonne replaces Matt Rhead.
Goal! Bromley 1, Lincoln City 1. Blair Turgott (Bromley).
Substitution, Lincoln City. Tom Champion replaces Nathan Arnold.
Substitution, Bromley. Lee Minshull replaces Reece Prestedge.
Alex Woodyard (Lincoln City) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Bromley 0, Lincoln City 1. Harry Anderson (Lincoln City).
Second Half begins Bromley 0, Lincoln City 0.
First Half ends, Bromley 0, Lincoln City 0.
Sean Raggett (Lincoln City) is shown the yellow card.
Jack Muldoon (Lincoln City) is shown the yellow card.
Rob Swaine (Bromley) is shown the yellow card.
Adam Cunnington (Bromley) is shown the yellow card.
Tobi Sho-Silva (Bromley) is shown the yellow card.
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. | Lincoln lost ground on National League leaders Forest Green following a draw at Bromley. | 37527658 |
Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot was expected to confirm in a letter to David Cameron that it would be delayed until after the election on 7 May.
The inquiry began its work in 2009 and held its last public hearing in 2011.
Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd has been critical of the way the UK went to war in Iraq.
He was involved in the high-profile attempts from 2004 onwards to impeach the then Prime Minister Tony Blair for misleading the UK Parliament over the war in Iraq.
He told BBC's Good Morning Wales: "This prolonged delay - remembering it's over five years since they started - the millions of pounds of public funds going into it, I think it's an insult to those who lost loved ones out there and I also think it undermines the credibility of the whole report and its recommendations at the end of the day." | A decision to delay publishing a long-awaited report following the official inquiry into the 2003 Iraq war has been described as an "insult". | 30912288 |
The episode of Don't Make Me Laugh, which sees comedians discuss topics without causing the audience to chuckle, went out on 21 April.
It included the subject "The Queen must have had sex at least four times."
The BBC received over 100 complaints and apologised the following day.
After presenter David Baddiel introduced the subject, panellists - including comedian Russell Kane - made sex-based jokes about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh that the BBC Trust ruled were "personal, intrusive and demeaning".
In its findings, the trust stated "the offence felt was compounded by the date of the programme's transmission", but added it would be "hard to imagine circumstances in which this broadcast at any time or on any day would not have given rise to significant unjustified offence".
In apologising for the show, a BBC spokesman said: "We never intended for the scheduling of the programme to coincide with The Queen's birthday and are sorry for the offence caused by its timing and content."
He added that BBC Radio 4 comedy was "a broad church and often pushes boundaries".
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or email [email protected]. | A BBC Radio 4 show broadcast on the Queen's 90th birthday that included jokes about her sex life was in "serious breach" of editorial guidelines, the BBC Trust has ruled. | 36670509 |
Civilian casualties were reported after what residents said was light resistance from the militants.
The AU on Friday denied on Friday it has lost control of Merca, saying it had made a tactical withdrawal.
Al-Shabab was forced out of the capital Mogadishu in 2011 but still has a presence in large areas of the south.
A Somali military official told AFP news agency: "The Somali forces and Amisom [AU] peacekeepers secured control of Merca again and now the situation has returned to normal.
"There was brief exchange of gunfire, but the militants have fled."
He said "several" al-Shabab fighters and one Somali soldier had been killed in the fighting. A resident told AFP that four civilians had died in his area.
The fighting comes three weeks after al-Shabab overran an AU military base outside the southern Somali town of el-Ade, saying they had killed about 100 Kenyans soldiers. | The Somali military, backed by the African Union (AU), has retaken Merca from al-Shabab militants who seized the port city on Friday, residents say. | 35512034 |
Media playback is unsupported on your device
9 May 2013 Last updated at 16:57 BST
Georgina and William have spent months working to help protect rhino and elephants from hunters who kill the animals for their horns and tusks.
They says it's really important that the trade in ivory and rhino horn is stopped otherwise these animals could be wiped out forever.
Hear what they are doing to fight poaching. | Volunteers working for wildlife reserve in Africa say elephants and rhino are at risk of going extinct. | 22472839 |
Sudhir Choudhrie and his son Bhanu were arrested on Wednesday as part of an investigation into allegations of bribery in Indonesia and China.
The Choudhrie family and their businesses have donated more than £1.5m to the Liberal Democrats since 2004.
The men, who have been bailed without conditions, deny the allegations.
They were arrested as part of the serious fraud office's investigation into allegations of bribery in Asia by Rolls-Royce, which makes engines for military and commercial jets and ships
The Liberal Democrats confirmed they are aware of the SFO's investigation but say that whilst it is ongoing they cannot comment.
The Choudhrie family businesses, C&C Alpha Group, C&C Business Solutions & Alpha Healthcare, have donated more than £1.3m over the last 10 years.
This included donations in 2010, the general election year, totalling £415,000, which accounted for 8.5% of all the donations the Liberal Democrats received that year.
Sudhir Choudhrie and Bhuna Choudhrie have personally given £185,000 to the party since 2004.
Sudhir Choudhrie, 65, who is originally from India, lives in London and is reported to have arrived in the UK 10 years ago.
Home Secretary Theresa May presented him with a lifetime achievement award at the Asian Business awards in March last year.
In an interview after the ceremony, he said the secret of his success was ''hard work and nothing else but hard work''.
The family's portfolio of companies include businesses that specialise in providing services for the elderly and mentally ill.
The parent company of Alpha Hospitals Ltd is Harberry Investments which is registered in the British Virgin Islands, a tax haven. | Two top Liberal Democrat donors have been questioned in connection with an investigation into allegations of bribery at Rolls-Royce. | 26200161 |
19 March 2017 Last updated at 11:03 GMT
56-year-old Frenchman Eric Barone, reached a speed of over 141 miles per hour on his bike travelling down a slope in the French Alpine resort of Vars.
He beat the previous record which he himself had set in 2015 by almost 2.5 miles per hour.
Have a watch, it's pretty impressive. | A man nicknamed the "Red Baron" has set a new speed record riding a mountain bike... on snow! | 39320099 |
A woman and child from one car were fatally injured and pronounced dead at the crash site on the A38 between Tideford and Landrake.
A male pedestrian also sustained serious injuries and died at the scene.
The air ambulance took a child with serious head injuries to Bristol Children's Hospital. Their condition is not thought to be life-threatening.
Six further people were taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth with minor injuries. Two others were treated at the scene by paramedics.
Devon and Cornwall Police closed the A38 in both directions at Trerulefoot and St Germans following the crash at 11:15 BST and it stayed shut for several hours. | Three people have been killed and nine injured in an accident between five cars in Cornwall. | 40551318 |
Clive Colling has been missing from Bideford in north Devon since New Year's Day.
Police searches involving helicopters and dogs alongside specialist mountain rescue teams from Exmoor and Dartmoor have been looking for nearly a week.
Volunteers met at Northam Burrows near Westward Ho! to offer help trying to find Mr Colling, who has dementia.
Trevor Tomlinson, who helped organise the search over sixteen areas, said: "He may have just got up in the night and went for a walk and got lost, I've got no idea.
"The local community spirit is amazing in this area and I think they all want to try and help."
During the day there were reports Mr Colling had been seen in a nearby cafe but it proved to be a false alarm. | About 120 people in 30 cars have joined emergency services in searching for a missing 76-year-old man. | 38541918 |
The ODIs will be played in Leicester (20 June), Worcester (22 June) and Taunton (27 June).
Bristol (3 July), Southampton (5 July) and Chelmsford (7 July) will stage the T20 matches.
The T20 international at Southampton will take place immediately before the England men's T20 against Sri Lanka at the same ground.
The ODIs will form the side's fifth round of matches in the ICC Women's Championship - the qualification tournament for the 2017 Women's World Cup in England.
All of the England-Pakistan matches will be covered live by BBC Radio. | England women will face Pakistan in three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals next summer. | 34978594 |
Lt-Col Christopher Davies, 45, was arrested following an alleged incident on 10 April this year, police in Ontario have said.
The officer, who was in Canada on a temporary posting, has been bailed to appear in court on 15 September.
An army spokesman said it was aware of an investigation involving a serving British army officer.
The alleged assault occurred at Fort Frontenac, in Kingston, following commemorations for the World War One Battle of Vimy Ridge, on 9 April, police said.
The alleged victim - a 52-year-old female officer - had attended a military function at the fort.
She then allegedly went to a bar with other guests, including Lt-Col Davies. Police say she reported having being sexually assaulted in her hotel room in the early hours of the following day.
Lt-Col Davies was arrested and charged earlier this week.
He has since been released but was ordered to surrender his passport and has been barred from leaving Ontario ahead of a court appearance.
"We are aware of an investigation being conducted by Kingston Police into an alleged incident that took place in April this year involving a serving British army officer," a British army spokesman said.
"As the case is sub judice it would be inappropriate to make any comment." | A senior British army officer has been charged with sexually assaulting a female military officer in Canada. | 36994964 |
A public consultation over the proposed closure of Pells CE Primary School and Rodmell CE Primary School has been launched.
East Sussex County Council said the fall in pupil numbers meant the schools "could not secure financial stability".
Nick Bennett, who is the lead member for education, said the decision to close a school was "never an easy one".
The consultation will close on 27 May. | Two primary schools in Lewes have been earmarked for closure due to falling pupil numbers. | 36062657 |
Forest Green face Tranmere at Wembley, a year after losing to Grimsby in last year's final, with Vince certain his side will eventually be promoted.
"It's just a question of when. If it doesn't happen this Sunday, we'll have another shot next year.
"It's part of the long-term vision for the club," the 55-year-old said.
Vince has already declared his ambition for the Nailsworth-based club is to reach the Championship and feels Rovers can take the first step with victory over Tranmere, banishing the memories of the Grimsby defeat.
"It'll be different to last year, because we've been there and done it already," Vince told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
"I think it makes us as a club much more relaxed about the trip to Wembley. Our first time in the play-offs, when we finished fifth, was much more anxious for us than this year, our third time in the play-offs.
"We're going to have a great day on Sunday and see what comes." | Owner Dale Vince believes Forest Green Rovers are destined for the Football League - even if they lose Sunday's National League promotion final. | 39874156 |
The first refugees arrived in the town on 9 December last year, and since then 11 refugees have settled in Ceredigion.
The mural, which was unveiled at Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth, includes messages from pupils and members of the public.
It was a special collaboration between Oxfam Cymru, the artist Valériane Leblond and the school.
Pupils Cari and Steffan said they hoped everyone liked their mural of welcome.
Kirsty Davies-Warner, head of Oxfam Cymru, said: "It's been one year since the first refugees arrived to Wales, and this wonderful mural symbolises the extent of support and welcome that the people of Aberystwyth have shown the newly-arrived families."
Earlier this year, Syrian refugees gave out flowers and thanked passers-by for welcoming them to the town. | A mural including messages welcoming refugees from Syria who arrived in Aberystwyth one year ago has been unveiled for the first time. | 38301501 |
Shares in General Motors fell 3.4% after sales figures for March were less than analysts had been hoping for. Ford shares fell almost 2%.
But shares in electric car maker Tesla jumped more than 7% after it reported strong deliveries in the first quarter.
Overall, the Dow Industrials closed a touch lower at 20,650, the S&P 500 also edged lower to finish at 2,358.
The technology focused Nasdaq Composite lost 0.3% to close at 5,894.
"The disappointing auto sales are something people are keeping an eye on and that's meaningful news," said Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading.
There was some caution among investors before some important economic data released later in the week.
The latest set of jobs figures will be released on Friday, and before that there will be minutes from the Federal Reserve's March meeting.
In addition, President Donald Trump is holding his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday.
"The market will be anxious and will be eager to glean whatever they get from those talks," said Andre Bakhos, managing director at Janlyn Capital. | US stocks edged lower with shares in car makers under pressure after disappointing sales numbers. | 39481547 |
It's happened many times before because the government in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, has been testing Nuclear weapons.
Reports in the US say North Korea has now made nuclear missiles small enough to reach America.
If you want to know more about North Korea take a look at our guide.
A nuclear missile is a powerful bomb.
Bombs like this can affect people and the environment for years after the bomb has been dropped.
Countries have been angry with North Korea for a long time because of their nuclear testing.
And this is just another part of an ongoing argument between America and North Korea.
This is partly because America has for a long time supported South Korea.
Donald Trump is the latest US president to send warships and submarines to South Korea.
He is trying to get North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to stop his weapon-building plans.
The United Nations has even got involved. They are a group of countries who come together to make rules so that everyone can live in peace.
They have asked North Korea to stop building weapons .
After the new reports of smaller missiles, American President Donald Trump has warned North Korea to stop threatening the US. | There has been a big argument between the United States of America and North Korea. | 40873038 |
Jonathan Platt, from the Isle of Wight, argued the law only required pupils to attend "regularly".
Isle of Wight Council has now applied to the High Court to provide a clear definition of "regular attendance".
Mr Platt said he was "looking forward" to the case being heard there.
His six-year-old daughter's primary school refused his request to take her on a family holiday to Florida in April.
The council took him to court after he refused to pay a £120 fine.
He won his case last month after he told magistrates that Section 444 of the Education Act did not put restrictions on holidays during term time, provided pupils otherwise attended school regularly.
The council said it was "aggrieved" with the court's ruling that there was therefore no case for Mr Platt to answer.
It has applied to the High Court for an opinion on whether "the unauthorised absence of a child for seven consecutive school days on holiday... amounts to the child failing to attend the school regularly".
It claimed Mr Platt's daughter's attendance rate of 90.3% after she returned from the holiday was incorrectly calculated by the court.
And the local authority also said the school's holiday request form, which stated satisfactory attendance as being between 90% and 95%, was "an obsolete version".
Mr Platt said: "I'm really looking forward to this being considered by the High Court because I am convinced that this nonsense of fining parents who take kids on holiday in term time, but otherwise have perfect attendance, is coming to an end with that judgment." | A father who successfully contested a fine for taking his young daughter on a school term-time holiday has described his local council's decision to seek a High Court appeal as "nonsense". | 34698457 |
A titan arum is expected to bloom for the first time at any moment at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
The last time one flowered there was in 2004. The bloom lasts a few days and gives off a horrible smell.
When it flowers, the garden will be open late to enable visitors to smell it "at its night-time stinkiest".
"Amorphophallus titanum is a very unusual plant. It lives mostly in an underground tuber which every year puts out one gigantic leaf several metres tall that lasts for the growing season," Prof Beverley Glover, director of the garden, said.
Last month the same flower bloomed for the first time in Scotland. | Preparations are under way to let as many people as possible to see and smell a rare flower that emits a horrible "stench" in Cambridge. | 33563278 |
The aircraft left Turweston Aerodrome in north Buckinghamshire but then crashed at Aston Rowant Nature Reserve at 14:35 GMT.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "Sadly, the pilot of the aircraft, a man, has been pronounced dead at the scene."
Road diversions are in place around the area and an investigation into the crash is under way.
The man's next-of-kin are yet to be informed.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it had sent a team to investigate the crash site.
Police have locked down the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve after the aircraft accident, with a steady flow of police vehicles coming in and out of the site.
Conditions around the reserve were treacherous even for drivers on Sunday evening with very heavy fog on the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire border.
It is not known yet whether fog or poor visibility had a part to play in the fatal air crash at the nature reserve, which straddles the M40 near Stokenchurch.
What we do know is that recovery and investigations will continue throughout the night, although the fog may affect recovery overnight. | The pilot of a light aircraft has died in a plane crash in Oxfordshire. | 38629174 |
A proposal for a staff-owned company to run Salford City Council services has been approved "unanimously" by the council cabinet.
The 400 staff who currently run the services will be transferred to an independent, not-for-profit firm.
Other authorities have set up similar schemes, including Blackburn with Darwen Council, in 2011.
A report by Peter Connor, assistant mayor for services for adults and older people, was presented to the cabinet earlier.
The Labour councillor said: "The idea is to create a not-for-profit company owned by its staff and run for the benefit of the people it serves.
"Both staff and service users would decide what services are offered, be involved in developing innovative responses to present and future needs and have a strong voice in how the company develops.
"The company could also generate income which would reduce the need for core council funding over time while protecting services and jobs."
He said services for adult social care for people with complex needs had already been hit by budget cuts of more than £2m.
Labour-run Salford City Council serves approximately 800 people who have substantial or critical needs, estimated at a cost of £10.5m in the 2015-16 financial year.
Last month, the authority approved cuts of £31m for the next year, with a further 15% reduction the following year.
It plans to cut 200 posts in 2015-16 from its 8,500 workforce and the same number again during the following financial year. | Staff from a Greater Manchester council are to form their own firm to protect adult social care from budget cuts. | 32016351 |
The Stranraer team was called out to Luce Bay to help the vessel which had lost power shortly before 20:00 on Sunday.
It towed the boat away from the rocks before the tow was passed to a crew from Port William.
They were able to bring the vessel safely into harbour. | Two lifeboat crews have been involved in a late-night operation to save a stricken boat from hitting rocks on the Galloway coast. | 38795654 |
Stuart Hindes, 53, from Leeds, had started his charity swim about 03:00 BST on Sunday from Dover harbour.
Mr Hindes said there was "quite a swell" but he had started to catch the tide and had taken his seasickness medication.
"There's only so much you can put up with when you are retching," he added. His swim ended after about four hours.
More on this and other stories from Yorkshire
Mr Hindes described conditions as like being in a washing machine and said he had been battling seasickness after about 20 minutes of the attempt.
"It was tough I gave it everything I could before I got in the boat," he said.
The shortest route between Dover and Calais is about 21 miles (33km) but a swimmer covers a longer distance due to water currents. Mr Hindes had planned to be in the water for about 16 hours.
The fastest swim has been completed in about seven hours and the slowest in nearly 27 hours, according to the Channel Swimming Association.
When asked whether he would attempt the swim again, Mr Hindes said: "It's too early to say, I'm still hurting."
Mr Hindes had been part of a relay team of six swimmers that completed the cross-channel swim in 2011.
On his solo effort Mr Hindes was raising funds for mental health charity Mind and Clic Sargent, a cancer support charity for children, young people and their families.
He has raised £3,290 for CLIC Sargent so far, the charity said. | A swimmer had to abandon an attempt to cross the English Channel after a severe swell made him seasick. | 40631429 |
29 March 2017 Last updated at 12:53 BST
She has done this by triggering Article 50.
The UK has been a member of the European Union for more than 40 years, but in June 2016 adults in the UK voted to leave.
It's what's called 'Brexit'.
But what does this mean and what happens now? Jenny explains. | The UK's prime minister Theresa May has officially started the process for the UK to leave the European Union (EU). | 39330042 |
Republic of Ireland international Pearce, 27, joins the Robins until the end of the season after making just two appearances for Derby this season.
Gladwin, 23, has agreed a 93-day deal, having already spent time out on loan with former club Swindon in 2015-16.
Meanwhile, Gillingham have rejected three bids from City for 22-year-old midfielder Bradley Dack.
However, Gills chairman Paul Scally refused to confirm to BBC Radio Kent whether the Robins had offered as much as £1m.
Pearce and Gladwin are both cup tied so will be unavailable for Tuesday's FA Cup third-round match against West Bromwich Albion.
"Alex will offer us experience - he knows this division inside out," said interim manager John Pemberton.
"When I spoke to Alex, it's clear how desperate he is to get into the Ireland team for the Euros - if he does that then it means he will have played well for us."
Gladwin, who only joined QPR from Swindon in the summer, will officially begin his loan on Friday, meaning he will be eligible to play for Bristol City for the rest of the season.
"When we played Swindon last year he was always the one we picked out as a danger. He was always the one who caused us problems because he's a kid with exceptional ability."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Bristol City have completed the loan signings of QPR midfielder Ben Gladwin and Derby County defender Alex Pearce. | 35352998 |
The blaze at Clandon Park House in April gutted the Grade I-listed building near Guildford in Surrey.
The trust said it will rebuild the 18th century stately home, with scaffolding soon to be erected around the house.
Hundreds of items were rescued from the flames and it is hoped others can still be salvaged.
Helen Ghosh, director-general of the trust, said despite the pledge it was "far from certain" when and in what form the rebuild will take.
"The house has been left a shell, with the inside of the building almost completely destroyed," she said.
"We're still awaiting guidance from the structural engineers on the safety of the house.
"Despite the uncertainty, we would like to reassure all those people who love Clandon as much as we do that it will continue in some shape or form in the future."
It is still not known what caused the fire, however, the trust has said a "significant amount" of the house's collection had been saved.
One room - the Speakers' Parlour - survived "almost intact," it said.
Details of more than 350 items rescued have been released by the trust, including personal mementoes belonging to the 6th Earl of Onslow relating to his time as a prisoner of war. | A mansion reduced to a shell following a massive fire will be rebuilt "in some shape or form," the National Trust has said. | 33188322 |
Wales' chief medical officer Dr Ruth Hussey has joined her UK colleagues in updating 20-year-old guidelines.
One recommendation is not to "save up" 14 units of alcohol to drink on one or two days.
Also the often reported view that one or two glasses of red wine can protect against heart disease was "less significant" than previously thought.
The proposed changes in the guidelines are out to a UK-wide consultation until April.
The guidelines suggest:
The Change4Life Wales alcohol campaign is already encouraging people to have at least two alcohol-free days a week.
Dr Hussey said they "draw on the latest evidence on how different levels of drinking affect health risks for individuals".
She said they were there for people "to make informed decisions about their drinking".
Earlier this week, the Welsh government launched a three year strategy to tackle substance and alcohol abuse, including "risky drinking behaviour" among the under 24s and older people.
Hospital admissions in Wales for the over 50s with alcohol issues have increased for a third year running.
The Department of Health is leading the consultation but Mark Bellis, director of policy at Public Health Wales, is involved in developing the guidelines. | Drinkers are being advised by health officials to stagger their alcohol intake through the week. | 35252600 |
The couple with three children arrived in Perth on Monday night after their resettlement was fast-tracked due to a medical condition.
Australia agreed in September to take in an extra 12,000 refugees amid public pressure over Europe's migrant crisis.
The first Syrian refugees had not expected to arrive until December.
Federal Minister for Social Services Christian Porter said the family had "been through a great deal".
They had spent very long periods of time in refugee camps as a result of the Syrian conflict, a spokesperson for the minister told the BBC.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said all those being given refugee status in Australia had been "handpicked" by authorities and faced a rigorous screening process.
She was responding to questions about unconfirmed reports one of the men involved in the Paris attacks on Friday had posed as a Syrian refugee to enter Europe.
"We are focusing on people who have been persecuted in Syria and Iraq, people who are fleeing from terrorism, from persecution. Our screening and testing is very intense," she told the Seven Network.
"Australia is in control of the whole process. These are not people who are coming via the people smuggling trade and we don't know who they are." | Five Syrians have become the first of 12,000 refugees to arrive in Australia under a one-off plan to resettle people fleeing the country's conflict. | 34830118 |
Kristofer Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving following the incident in Ardersier, near the Fort George base, on 19 January 2015.
The soldiers were out for a morning run when they were hit by Smith's Volkswagen car and injured. One had to be airlifted to hospital for treatment.
The 33-year-old will appear for sentencing in Inverness in September.
Dean Tudor, Craig Smith, Alan Bowe and Alan Murray were all hurt in the crash, which occurred at 09:20 on Ardersier's High Street.
There were initially fears that the crash may have been a terrorist incident, but this was quickly ruled out by police. Locals speculated that Smith may have been blinded by the low morning sun.
Fort George, an 18th Century artillery fortification that continues to operate as a barracks, is home to the Black Watch (3 Scots) regiment. | A soldier has admitted knocking down four of his colleagues with a car outside an army base near Inverness. | 36985400 |
Launching her party's campaign in Bristol, Natalie Bennett said councils "desperately need a new green broom".
The party is standing more than 1,500 candidates on 5 May.
It received a record vote share of 3.8% in the 2015 general election. However, its increase in support did not result in another parliamentary seat.
A guide to May's elections
Ms Bennett said Green membership had more than trebled. "We got more than 1.1m votes in the general election - we are aiming to turn that green surge into green seats."
She said she hopes to increase the party's presence on councils where it has representation - like Bristol, Liverpool, Norwich, Sheffield and Oxford - but also make inroads into those which currently have no Green councillors.
She said her councillors had "fought tooth and nail" to protect services and the vulnerable from spending cuts by "challenging the destructive budget priorities of councils led by the old parties that have run out of ideas".
"We are a party very much on the up. We offer policies that work for local communities, that work for the common good within the environmental limits of our one planet."
The Green Party currently has 168 councillors in England. They gained 10 seats overall in the 2015 local elections but lost minority control of Brighton and Hove - which in 2011 became the first UK council to be led by the party.
As well as the local authority elections in England on 5 May, polls are being held for the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations as well as to elect a London mayor and police and crime commissioners in England and Wales. | The Green Party is aiming to build on 2015's "surge" in votes and membership to boost its representation on English councils in the local elections. | 36055513 |
Wayne Ingram, from Weymouth, raised £140,000 for the boy who he first met on Army patrol in Bosnia 14 years ago.
Stefan Savic, now 18, has undergone a series of operations and has since made a full recovery.
Mr Ingram, a South Western Ambulance paramedic, said receiving the award was a "humbling and memorable experience".
Mr Ingram raised the funds to pay for five operations for Stefan, who had his first operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in July 2003 and his final one in October last year.
If left untreated Stefan's cleft could have had serious health complications, including blindness and the restriction of his airway, the ambulance service trust said.
Mr Ingram, who was nominated for the award by a Serbian newspaper, attended the awards ceremony at Belgrade City Hall.
"It was a truly humbling and memorable experience," he said.
"I feel immense pride - the whole thing has been a rollercoaster of emotions.
"Stefan's facial transformation and progress is truly remarkable."
He said he would maintain contact with Stefan and his family. | A former soldier who helped a boy with a rare facial cleft has become the first British citizen to receive a humanitarian award in Serbia. | 39079743 |
Dylan Crawford, aged 20, from Dromore in Killygordon, was found at Spear Street in the city's northern quarter, shortly before 01:40 BST on Wednesday.
Detectives have arrested two men on suspicion of theft and supplying drugs.
A post-mortem examination has proved inconclusive. In a statement, Mr Crawford's family said they are "devastated" by their loss.
"Our Dylan was a loving, kind and a very trustworthy individual. He saw the good in everyone and that was his downfall," the statement said.
"He loved to travel and would give the world to anyone. He was the heart of our family and words can't describe how devastated we are."
Greater Manchester Police said they are trying to determine the circumstances surrounding Mr Crawford's death.
They also are trying to trace another man in connection with the investigation.
"Our investigation into Dylan's death continues and we have now released an image of a man we want to speak to. If you recognise him or the clothes he is wearing, please get in touch," said Det Insp Rebecca Boyce said.
"We are also looking for anyone who was around the Spear Street, Back Piccadilly Street and Oldham Street area between 11.30pm on Tuesday and 12.30am on Wednesday to come forward.
"Even at this time of night, the area would be fairly busy so it is possible that somebody may have seen something. No piece of information is too small," she added. | A police investigation is underway after a County Donegal man was found dead in Manchester city centre. | 39598671 |
Smith, 19, made 25 appearances last season to help the Tykes win promotion to the second tier with victory in the League One play-offs.
The defender also played four games during a month-long loan to League Two side Crawley earlier this year.
"I'm delighted to bring Smith to Gateshead," said boss Neil Aspin.
"He's a player who has played a good number of games for Barnsley for one so young."
The signing takes Neil Aspin's tally of summer signings to 13.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Gateshead have signed left-back George Smith on a one-year-deal, after Championship side Barnsley retracted their offer of a new contract. | 36661907 |
Police and fire services were called to the property in the Garrynamonie area of the island at about 11:00.
Officers said a woman, who was alone in the house, died at the scene.
Police said an investigation into the cause was ongoing. | A woman has died in a house fire on South Uist. | 38939014 |
Police said the vehicle was stolen from Galway Street at 19:15 GMT on Saturday and driven into the Divis area where a crowd had gathered.
They said that after a number of "reckless hand-brake turns" the vehicle was taken to Roumania Rise where an attempt was made "to burn it out".
This was prevented by police, they added. | Bottles and bricks have been thrown at police by a crowd as they attempted to recover a stolen car in west Belfast. | 38124308 |
The drugs were found on luxury yacht Makayabella after it was stopped off the coast of Ireland in September.
David Webster, 44, Philip McElhone, 29, and Dawne Powell, 56, all from West Yorkshire, have been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine.
All three will appear at Leeds Crown Court on 8 April.
Mr Webster, of Rillmead, Otley, Mr McElhone, of Freemantle Place, Halton Moor, in Leeds, and Mrs Powell were remanded in custody following a hearing at Wakefield Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Mrs Powell, of Netherfield Road, Guiseley, is also charged with money-laundering.
It is believed the drugs, which came from Venezuela, would have had a street value in excess of £150m.
The Makayabella was intercepted by Irish authorities while investigators also seized a 25ft (7.6m) motor boat called Sea Breeze, moored in Pwllheli, north Wales.
Three men are awaiting trial in Ireland in connection with the seizure. | Three people have been charged in connection with a plot to smuggle cocaine with an estimated street value of £150m into the UK. | 32073479 |
The value of the transaction has not been disclosed.
Last month, Aberdeen agreed to buy a US hedge fund investor as part of a drive to strengthen its alternative product offering.
And in May it acquired a private equity firm with bases in the US and Hong Kong.
The AEC team will be based in Aberdeen's London office and will become part of the group's growing Alternatives business.
As of 30 June, AEC managed £409m across a range of investment funds.
Following the transaction, Aberdeen will manage 33 closed-end funds with aggregate assets under management of more than £8.5bn.
Aberdeen chief executive Martin Gilbert said: "The acquisition of Advance Emerging Capital brings to Aberdeen a dedicated and highly experienced fund management team, expands further our closed-end fund business and adds to the range of alternative investment capabilities we already offer.
"AEC investors will benefit from the management team being part of a larger, independent asset manager and the ability to draw on the Group's established distribution and operational expertise in regard to closed end funds." | Aberdeen Asset Management has continued on the acquisition trail by buying London-based specialist investment manager Advance Emerging Capital (AEC). | 34257112 |
Mr Smith's body was found on the beach at Victoria Park on 26 March, a month after the teenager was reported to have fallen from cliffs at Arbroath.
A coastguard helicopter, lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams all took part in a search for the teenager.
Mr Smith's friends and family conducted their own searches of the coastline after the official operation ended. | The body of a man discovered on a beach at Arbroath has been confirmed as missing 18-year-old Ralph Smith. | 39517491 |
O'Neill, 19, made five appearances for Burnley in all competitions last season after joining from Brisbane Athletic.
The Australian then played 15 times on loan at Oldham, helping the Latics avoid relegation from League One.
"He will add things to our team that we need, he is athletic and well skilled," Fleetwood manager Uwe Rosler told the club website.
O'Neill joins strikers Conor McAleny and Jordy Hiwula, defenders Lewie Coyle and Harvey Rodgers and midfielder Kyle Dempsey in joining Fleetwood this summer.
He is the third Burnley player to be sent out on loan for the upcoming season, following Chris Long's move to Northampton Town and Alex Whitmore's switch to Bury.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Fleetwood Town have signed teenage midfielder Aiden O'Neill on a season-long loan from Premier League Burnley. | 40789649 |
Three attackers were killed at Gush Etzion Junction, where similar incidents have occurred, and the fourth was killed near Hebron, the army said.
No soldiers were injured. Palestinian health officials confirmed the deaths.
There has been an upsurge in violence between Israelis and Palestinians in recent months.
"Three attackers, armed with knives, attempted to stab soldiers guarding the Gush Etzion junction," an Israeli military statement said.
Palestinian media named the three as Muhanad Kawazbeh, 20, Ahmed Kawazbeh, 21, and Alaa Kawazbeh, 20, all from the village of Sair, north-east of Hebron.
Shortly afterwards, a Palestinian was shot while tried to stab soldiers near Hebron, an Israeli statement said.
He was later named as Khalil Shalalda, 16, also from Sair.
Twenty-two Israelis have been killed in attacks including stabbings, car rammings and shootings since 1 October.
More than 140 Palestinians have been killed. More than half were said by Israel to be attackers. Others have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces. | Four Palestinians have been shot dead after trying to stab Israeli soldiers in two incidents in the occupied West Bank, Israel's military says. | 35259427 |
Guernsey Police said the "gentlemen's evenings" due to be held on 21 and 22 November at Forest Park Hotel were cancelled at short notice.
Officers said the organiser left the island on 21 November and there could have been as many as 370 tickets sold at £25 each.
Anyone who bought tickets has been asked to contact police.
The force said this was so the total amount involved could be established. | The organiser of stripper nights that never took place may have left Guernsey with more than £9,000 of ticket money. | 30417116 |
The 23-year-old has not played since September and was put on a fitness regime, spending time in France, after being ruled unfit and overweight.
He is unlikely to face Burnley on Monday but could return when Albion visit Hull City on 26 November.
"He's trained well this week but he needs games," Pulis said.
The former England Under-21 international's form has suffered since he reacted angrily to a bid from Tottenham being turned down on deadline day of the summer transfer window in 2015.
Having scored 20 goals in 45 games in 2014-15, he has only managed seven in 40 since then - and none in his last 14 matches for West Brom.
Pulis said: "Fitness-wise we're pleased, he's getting there. The next step is to get him some games.
"There's lots of good people who have spoken to him. The most important thing is Saido unravels who has given him good advice and bad advice.
"Saido's been a player in demand ever since I've been here from other clubs and speculation has run with it. It's been a saga.
"He's got a lot of talent, and he's got to exploit that and get the best out of his talent. Over the past year or so that's not happened. He's got to work out why." | West Brom striker Saido Berahino is close to returning from injury and looks "sharper and mentally a lot clearer", says Baggies boss Tony Pulis. | 38014741 |
Janulis' photographs show the countryside covered in snow as winter takes hold.
"On the first day the snow fell, I went flying and taking pictures, not to miss the chance of capturing the moments while the trees are still holding the fresh snow," says Janulis.
"No matter how cold it was, I enjoyed the winter season.
"The very end of December and early January brought stronger cold to Lithuania, reaching -15C. No matter of this, I kept on flying."
Janulis's images capture the countryside and the capital, Vilnius.
"I have always loved looking at perspectives from above; it allows us to see so many things that would otherwise be unnoticed," says Janulis.
"Taking photographs from above grants us the possibility to see the same view of the daily world as others."
Janulis uses a DJI Phantom 2 Vision Plus quadcopter to capture the pictures.
Here, the snow covers the damaged roof of a large building in Vilnius. | Karolis Janulis has been using a drone to take pictures of his homeland, Lithuania, from the air. | 35344613 |
Police said they were called to reports of a body at a property in Templehill in Troon at 17:15 BST on Saturday.
Jonathan Adair junior, who was 32, had recently been released from prison.
Officers said they were treating the death as unexplained and a post-mortem examination would be carried out. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
Jonathan Adair's father, Johnny Adair, is a former leader of the outlawed Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF).
The family was forced to flee Northern Ireland in 2003 after a series of murders linked to a loyalist feud.
When he was 18 and still living in Northern Ireland, Jonathan Adair was shot in both legs in the loyalist lower Shankill area of west Belfast. | The son of former loyalist paramilitary leader Johnny Adair has been found dead in South Ayrshire. | 37334319 |
It is modelled after the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, which put a firewall between traditional banking and more risky financial activities.
Many people have argued that the Act's repeal in 1999 contributed to the financial crisis that engulfed the US.
Previous attempts to revive Glass-Steagall failed to gain enough support.
The latest attempt to push legislation through Congress is backed by Republican Senator John McCain and Democrat Elizabeth Warren
"Since core provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act were repealed in 1999, shattering the wall dividing commercial banks and investment banks, a culture of dangerous greed and excessive risk-taking has taken root in the banking world," said Senator McCain in a statement announcing the introduction of the legislation.
The new act would re-establish a wall between traditional consumer banks that are insured by American regulators and riskier financial instruments like investment banking and credit derivatives.
It would also aim to shrink the size of so-called "too big to fail" institutions in the hopes of reducing the need for a government bailout.
"Despite the progress we've made since 2008, the biggest banks continue to threaten the economy," said Senator Warren, who won election to the US Senate on her reputation as a thorn in the banking sector's side.
"The 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act will re-establish a wall between commercial and investment banking, make our financial system more stable and secure, and protect American families."
In 2010, Congress passed sweeping financial reform known as Dodd-Frank, although many of the law's provisions have yet to be implemented.
It remains unclear how likely it will be that the act will pass, especially in the face of a divided Congress. | A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced legislation in Congress aimed at separating commercial and investment banking. | 23280734 |
Mr Isa, chairman of the World Uighur Congress, was due to attend a conference next week in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala.
He said he was "disappointed" by the Indian government's action.
Earlier reports said Delhi had granted Mr Isa a visa after China blocked India's bid to get the UN to ban Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, had criticised India's move and described Mr Isa as a "terrorist" with an Interpol red-corner notice against him, leading to Delhi rescinding his visa.
Uighurs are an ethnic minority community from China's western Xinjiang region and have a long history of discord with Beijing. They are Muslims and regard themselves as culturally and ethnically close to Central Asian nations.
"I express my disappointment on Indian authorities' cancellation of my visa to attend the annual Interethnic Interfaith Leadership Conference taking place in Dharamsala from 30 April to 1 May," Mr Isa, who lives in Germany, said in a statement.
He confirmed that India had granted him a tourist e-visa which was cancelled on 23 April.
"I recognise and understand the difficult position that the Indian government found itself, and regret that my trip has generated such unwarranted controversy."
The democracy conference in Dharamsala is being organised by the US-based Initiatives for China and Uighurs, and the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader in-exile, is also due to attend the meeting. | India has cancelled the visa of Chinese dissident leader and Uighur activist Dolkun Isa after a protest by Beijing. | 36127406 |
Wales defender Neil Taylor accidentally kicked the Serbian, 27, while they both tussled for the bouncing ball.
Tadic, who has been in fine form for both Serbia and Southampton this season, may need surgery.
The draw in Cardiff left Serbia second in the group, two points adrift of leaders the Republic of Ireland. | Southampton forward Dusan Tadic may have broken his nose during Serbia's 1-1 draw against Wales in their Group D World Cup qualifier in Cardiff. | 37965215 |
Canadian writer Kelly Oxford called on women to tweet their first experiences of sexual assault on Friday.
She described five personal experiences of being assaulted, including on a bus at the age of 12.
She continues to receive stories "every second".
Many women tweeted under the #NotOkay hashtag.
Women from around the world described being raped by public safety officers at university, groped by colleagues at work, stripped by police officers and molested by doctors, dentists and x-ray technicians.
Many of the stories recounted described assaults that took place when the women were underage, some as infants.
The exposure of "predatory males have made us stronger", Ms Oxford tweeted, adding "we realized the shame we carry is their shame".
The tweets can be read here.
Someone is sexually assaulted every two minutes in the United States, according to anti-sexual violence organisation RAINN. Nine out of every 10 rape victims are female. | Tens of thousands of women have been sharing their experiences of sexual assault on Twitter after a video showed US presidential candidate Donald Trump boasting about groping women. | 37603217 |
More than half of British adults watch more than one episode of the same show back-to-back at least once a month.
Of those, a third - almost 10 million - admit they have missed sleep or become tired as a result, while a quarter say they have neglected household chores.
Media watchdog Ofcom did the research into what it called "box set Britain".
82%
aged 16-24 watch multiple episodes at least monthly
67% of adults watch on demand to avoid adverts
54% of adults like to watch on tablets or smartphones
91% watch live TV, but viewing time is down 14% since 2010
Findings in the broadcasting regulator's Communications Market Report include:
Posting children's photos divides nation
Lindsey Fussell, consumer group director at Ofcom, said: "Technology has revolutionised the way we watch TV. The days of waiting a week for the next episode are largely gone, with people finding it hard to resist watching multiple episodes around the house or on the move.
"But live television still has a special draw, and the power to bring the whole family together in a common experience."
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]. | About 10 million Britons have skipped sleep or made themselves tired the next day because they were binge-watching TV, new research suggests. | 40802940 |
He told the party's spring conference in Llanelli there was a "palpable" appetite to bring 17 years of Labour-led government to an end.
Plaid Cymru had "ambitious but achievable" ideas to boost health, education and the economy, he said.
"Wales needs a break, a long break. Labour needs a break," he added.
"Our ambition for Wales can appeal to all," Mr ap Iorwerth said.
"Regardless of people's background, circumstances, or previous loyalties, the whole nation can unite behind our programme for a well, well-educated and wealthier Wales.
"Real change is on the ballot paper at this election. Now is the time to decide."
Adam Price, the former MP now standing for the assembly, predicted Labour would lose the election.
"They deserve to lose because they have already lost any sense of direction, any scrap of creativity, of vision, of drive," he said.
Plaid Cymru is currently the assembly's third largest party with 11 of its 60 seats, but it holds no constituency seats outside of mid, west and north west Wales.
It was part of a coalition government with Labour from 2007 to 2011. | Plaid Cymru's election pitch can reach beyond its heartlands to the whole of Wales, the party's economy spokesman Rhun ap Iorwerth has said. | 35730870 |
The 18-year-old has been linked with Premier League clubs in recent weeks.
"Ryan has put pen to paper on an extension to his contract that will keep him here for the foreseeable future," manager Neal Ardley told the Dons' website.
"It's great news and we want our young, talented players to be at the club for a long time."
Sweeney has impressed since being brought back into the first team last month, making nine of his 12 appearances for the club since then.
"My heart is set here. I want to play for Wimbledon," he said.
"I think I've progressed this season and especially over the last 18 months."
The exact length of his new contract has not been disclosed. | AFC Wimbledon's teenage centre-back Ryan Sweeney has signed a new contract with the League Two club. | 35919184 |
There are fears of food shortages after the hurricane, which hit on 24 October, damaged many crops in southern Haiti.
Aid workers and officials are also on alert for an increase in cholera cases in the wake of widespread flooding.
More than 50 people were killed in Haiti, which is still struggling to recover from the 2010 earthquake.
Thousands of people are still living in makeshift shelters more than two years on from the devastating quake.
The office of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe made the renewed appeal for help on Sunday.
There is concern that unsanitary conditions could led to an increase in cholera cases.
More than 7,500 people have died in the cholera epidemic in Haiti since late 2010. Hundreds of new cases are still being registered every week.
Although Hurricane Sandy just clipped Haiti on its way northwards, its heavy rains and strong winds destroyed more than 70% of crops in the south of the country.
Food insecurity, particularly in this part of Haiti, was already a major concern.
In Cuba, where 11 people died and there was extensive damage to crops, a huge clean-up is continuing. Hundreds of electricians are working to restore power in the east of the country.
Cuban President Raul Castro, who has been visiting the region, has described the country's second city, Santiago, as looking like a bomb site.
Aid has arrived form Russia, Venezuela and Bolivia, with more due from Ecuador. | The Haitian government has renewed calls for international emergency aid to help the country deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. | 20202840 |
The satirical comedy, Special Correspondents, is a remake of a 2009 French film about a struggling radio journalist who files fake war reports.
Gervais will write and direct the film, described by Netflix's Ted Sarandos as a "smart social satire with heart".
"It's great to be part of the changing future," said Gervais.
"Ted Sarandos is the new Godfather of entertainment, and he made me an offer I couldn't refuse."
Netflix's plans to expand into film-making has already seen it sign deals with Adam Sandler, Leonardo DiCaprio and the Weinstein Company.
"Having shaken up the TV industry, Netflix is about to do the same to Hollywood," said Gervais, whose Channel 4 series Derek was streamed by Netflix in the US.
The original Special Correspondents film starred Gerard Lanvin and Gerard Jugnot as a radio journalist and technician in Paris who pretend to report live from Iraq.
Set predominantly in New York, the new version will see Gervais and Bana's characters fake their own kidnappings during a rebel uprising in South America.
Sony Pictures acquired the rights to distribute Gervais's remake internationally at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California last November. | Ricky Gervais is to make a comedy film for streaming service Netflix that will see the star of The Office and Derek appear alongside Australia's Eric Bana. | 32202627 |
Jhon Jairo Velasquez, nicknamed Popeye, was the top hit man of late Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar.
He confessed to killing 300 people and also claimed a hand in up to 3,000 killings in the 1980s and 1990s.
But he also gave evidence against an ex-justice minister convicted of ordering the killing of a rival.
Velasquez, 52, walked free from the Combita high-security prison on Tuesday to start a probation period of four years.
He left under heavy police escort, a sign of the risks he believes he will face outside jail.
The BBC's Arturo Wallace in Bogota says Colombia is divided over his early release.
Several victims insist he still hasn't paid for all his crimes, while others say that after two decades in jail it is time to give him a second chance, our correspondent says.
Velasquez was convicted for his part in the murder of presidential hopeful Luis Carlos Galan in 1989.
But he later turned state's witness against former Justice Minister Alberto Santofimio, a rival candidate in the 1990 presidential election, who was convicted of ordering Mr Galan's killing.
Mr Galan had taken a hard line against powerful drug cartels and was favourite to win the election, but he was was shot dead in a town outside Bogota as he prepared to give a speech.
Santofimio, now serving a 24-year sentence, was a close associate of Escobar - the founder of the Medellin cartel which was engaged in a war against the Colombian state. | One of Colombia's most notorious hired killers has been released from prison after serving 22 years of a 30-year sentence. | 28947927 |
The yellow Trislander G-Joey was retired from service in June after serving the islands, Southampton and Dinard for almost 40 years.
Originally it was thought the aircraft would end up in a museum in England, but late last year talks began to keep it in Guernsey.
If planning permission is given, the plane will be kept at Oatlands Village.
The attraction was bought by Chris Coles last year and he has already asked for planning permission for a refurbishment including repairs to the brick kilns, which date back to the 19th Century, and extending the restaurant.
A further application for three barns, including one to house Joey, will be made if planners agree to remove a 35-year-old planning condition.
Mr Coles said the aim for Joey's World was to provide an "inspirational and educational message to young people" and to "reimagine Joey so that he has universal appeal".
He said he hoped to have a simple simulator for children to try flying between Guernsey and Alderney and provide supervised access to the plane's cockpit.
Mark Darby, CEO of the aircraft's owners Aurigny, said Mr Cole's "enthusiasm for displaying Joey was infectious" and he felt it would be the "perfect home".
He said: "The proposal to store Joey undercover is important because the aircraft must be protected from the elements."
Paul Belben, who is behind the 5,700-strong Save Joey Facebook group, said: "Interesting news that Joey will be housed in a new purpose-built barn, if permission is given.
"[I'm] also looking forward to seeing the arrangements for keeping Joey preserved. It will certainly be a very unique attraction for Guernsey." | The Channel Islands' most famous aircraft could be put on display at a Guernsey tourist attraction. | 35709640 |
Imran Khan, 34, of Pendle Street in Accrington, Lancashire, admitted taking the girl from Nairne Street in Burnley on 26 March.
He also admitted intending to commit a sexual offence and breaching a sexual offences' prevention order.
Following the hearing at Preston Crown Court, Khan was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on 23 October.
Police said the girl was bundled into the boot of Khan's car before being driven to Scarth Lane in Hapton where he exposed himself and tried to force her to commit a sexual act.
Khan then dumped her in a wheelie bin before she later freed herself and was found wandering alone in distress by other children, the court heard.
Det Insp Jim Elston of Lancashire Police said it was a "horrendous" and "terrifying offence".
Khan was convicted in 2008 of a sexual offence involving a 12-year-old girl, police said.
Mr Elston said: "While we have rigorous systems in place to manage sex offenders who have served a sentence and been released into the community, this cannot happen 24 hours a day and unfortunately on occasion an offender may go on to commit a further offence as happened in this case.
"There is currently a review ongoing into this particular case and we will clearly look carefully at the results of that to see if there are any lessons we can learn." | A registered sex offender has pleaded guilty to abducting a six-year-old girl who was taken in a car from the street. | 34318122 |
Pizza Hut worker Ali Qasemi, 45, died in May, two days after he was punched and left dying on the pavement in Peterborough.
Mark Lintott, 29, of Peterborough, denies robbery and manslaughter.
A jury at Peterborough Crown Court heard Joel Lawson, 25, of Norwich, admitted both charges ahead of the trial.
Gregory Perrins, prosecuting, said the pair had been drinking with friends when they plotted to take the food without paying.
"They intended to take it using threat or force," he said.
"Mr Lintott gave the restaurant a false address, so when Mr Qasemi arrived, he had to call the number of the person so he had to ask where they were.
"Then they came out of the flat intending to take those pizzas by force."
Mr Perrins said Lawson punched Mr Qasemi, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head.
He told the jury: "While he was on the ground they collected the pizza they had taken from him and continued to drink and party inside Mr Lintott's flat.
"While outside Mr Qasemi lay dying, and a passer-by alerted the emergency services."
The prosecution said that although Lawson, of Goodhale Road, threw the punch, he and Mr Lintott, of Shrewsbury Court, were "equally responsible".
Mr Qasemi, a married father of two, died from a serious head injury following the attack on 8 May.
The court was told his wife Fawzia was pregnant at the time of his death. | A takeaway delivery driver was killed in a "snatch and grab" robbery for three pizzas, a court has heard. | 37683326 |
Sharon Wilson and Ian Ferguson were elected to seats in the Rosyth and Dunfermline North wards.
Mr Ferguson won 1,056 votes, ahead of Labour candidate Joe Long on 719, while Ms Wilson won 1,214, ahead of Labour's Vikki Fairweather on 926.
The elections were triggered by the resignation of two SNP councillors, one of whom, Douglas Chapman, became MP for Dunfermline and Fife West in May.
Turnout in each ward was just over 24%. | The SNP has held two seats on Fife Council following by-elections. | 34943892 |
The tattooed body of Sebastiano Magnanini, 46, was found tied to a shopping trolley in Regent's Canal in Islington on 24 September.
Michael Walsh, 41, of Wharfdale Road, King's Cross, has been charged with preventing lawful burial and conspiracy to commit fraud.
He is due at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on 27 October.
Previously, Paul Williams, 61, of no fixed abode was charged with preventing lawful burial and Daniel Hastie, 22, also of no fixed abode, was charged with fraud by false representation.
Both men were remanded in custody following court appearances and are due to attend further hearings later this month.
Mr Magnanini, who was originally from Venice, had been living and working in south London.
He was last seen by colleagues two days before his body was found.
An initial post-mortem examination did not reveal the cause of death and further toxicology tests are being conducted, the Met said. | A third man has been charged over the death of an Italian carpenter whose body was found in a north London canal. | 34557035 |
Irfon Williams from Bangor, Gwynedd, had moved to England to access the drug Cetuximab to treat his bowel cancer but died on 30 May.
The drug is now available in Wales following his campaign.
Bangor Cathedral was at capacity and hundreds more watched the proceedings on a screen outside.
He left his wife, Becky, and five children.
Leading the service, the Dean of Bangor, the Very Rev Kathy Jones, told the mourners Mr Williams "had not set out to be a hero .... but that's what he became".
She added: "He was unassuming, but his impression was immense. He was determined to make right what he saw as unfair."
There were performances from Britain's Got Talent finalists Cor Glanaethwy and singer Rhys Meirion.
Mr Williams' friend, the former rugby international Robin McBryde, gave a reading. | Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of a cancer patient who campaigned for better access to cancer drugs in Wales. | 40193469 |
There had been local opposition and a petition launched to oppose the loss of the area as part of wider changes.
The local authority had initially accepted the historic site would move outside Hawick ward boundaries.
However, it has now decided to oppose the move in its submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission.
Last week councillors agreed with proposals that would see their numbers reduced from 34 to 32.
They also accepted a change that would see Hawick's two three-member wards replaced with one four-member ward.
But the authority has now decided to alter its response to allow the inclusion of what has been described as a "sacred and cherished site" for the town.
In 1514 a group of Hawick youths defeated an English raiding party and captured their standard at Hornshole.
Two statues in the town celebrate that historic event. | Scottish Borders Council is to "tweak" its submission to the boundary commission to include the famous battle site at Hornshole in a Hawick ward. | 32897359 |
An administrative error at a polling station means "an unknown number" of people were able to vote for candidates from outside their own ward.
The error affected candidates standing in the South ward on Macclesfield's new town council.
The council said the number of voters affected was small.
Cheshire East Council will make an application to a county court for the ineligible ballot papers to be discounted from the results.
The votes were part of the first election for Macclesfield's new town council, which will be responsible for facilities including allotments, public toilets and CCTV.
One Conservative and one Labour member were elected to represent South ward.
The Conservatives have eight seats on the new authority while Labour has four.
Subject to court approval, the sealed envelopes containing the ballot papers will now be reopened and the result recalculated.
Cheshire East Council insists the "secrecy of the ballot will be maintained at all times".
Labour have called for an apology and a "clear explanation" for the error.
Cheshire East Council said its returning officer "regrets this has become necessary" but added that only voters who used the polling station at Ivy Bank Primary School have been affected. | Votes may have to be recounted in parts of Macclesfield because some voters in last week's local elections were given the wrong ballot papers. | 32705928 |
The firm could face penalties of up to 15% of its 2014 revenue in Russia.
The case was originally launched by Russian rival Yandex in February and comes as the EU also investigates Google's Android operating system.
Google said that it was considering its next move.
"We haven't yet received the ruling. When we do, we will study it and determine our next steps," a spokeswoman told the BBC.
In Russia, Google is less dominant in search than in other European countries with rival Yandex commanding 60% of the search market.
However, the Android operating system is on more than 80% of smartphones sold in the country.
Shares in Yandex rose on the news.
Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) said it would be sending its full ruling to Google in the next 10 days requesting that it "terminate abuse of dominant position".
Among the original complaints against Google were:
Yandex welcomed the ruling.
"We believe the FAS decision will serve to restore competition in the market," the company said.
In April, EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager began formal legal proceedings against Google over accusations that the firm's promotion of its own shopping links amounted to an abuse of its dominance in search.
The firm said it "strongly disagreed" with the allegations.
Ms Vestager also revealed that she had launched an investigation into whether the way Google bundled apps and services for its Android operating system was unfair.
It is the culmination of a five-year investigation into the company. It could ultimately lead to fines of billions of euros. | Russia's anti-monopoly watchdog has accused Google of abusing its dominant position in the market by requiring phone-makers to pre-install its apps on Android phones. | 34257002 |
Media playback is unsupported on your device
29 November 2014 Last updated at 13:48 GMT
The massive cake was put together by forty five volunteers over six hours and is big enough to feed twelve thousand people!
It weighs two tonnes, which is nearly the same weight as an average African elephant.
But to break the record the entire cake must be eaten, with all the money raised going towards a children's charity. Yum! | A world record attempt for the largest cake sculpture has been launched in London. | 30259160 |
The incident happened at about 21:00 on 23 January in the upstairs toilets of the Caledonian Bar in the city's High Street.
In the new appeal, police said some people may know the pub by its former name, Smith & Jones.
A man was in custody following the incident but has been released.
Officers have asked people who were in the pub between 20:00 and 23:00 to contact them. | Police have made a new appeal for information after a woman was attacked in the male toilets of a pub in Inverness last month. | 31116685 |
The accident happened shortly after midnight on the A638 at Rossington, Doncaster, leaving the Great North Road closed.
The two women, aged 59 and 52, were passengers in a black cab heading towards Bawtry, said police.
The other taxi carried six passengers and a driver. It was travelling in the opposite direction to Doncaster.
Two men, both aged 58, also travelling in the black cab, sustained minor injuries.
The six passengers in the other taxi were three men aged 22, 25 and 29, and three women, aged 21, 25 and 26.
The drivers of the taxis were men aged 40 and 58.
All 10 were taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries, South Yorkshire Police said.
The road was closed for a time but has since reopened. | Two women died and 10 people were injured in a crash involving two taxis in South Yorkshire. | 35453806 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.